The game got underway with some good early pressure from Woodlands who soon made the most of it when the ball was fed out wide right to Robyn who sprinted down the wing before checking out to maintain possession, fed a pin point ball to Emily who from the moment the ball arrived at her feet it was inevitable that the net would bulge and so it did with a stunning strike.
We have played Sherwood from the beginning and one thing they have always had is determination and we knew what to expect. We always work hard not to give corners away but after eight minutes Sherwood delivered a great ball into the box which was met on the volley by Zharney to equal the scores.
Both teams then dug in and tried to break each other down but with the defensive unit of Annie, Ash, Chelsea, Becky and Peggy holding firm the chances started to come and on 20 minutes Saffy cut inside the fullback and stroked the ball past the Sherwood keeper to give the girls the lead.
At half time we made a few changes and pointed out a few areas where we could improve to gain the upper hand. With only 2 minutes on the clock the ball was played in over the top of Georgia who met it with the sweetest of volleys from fully 35 yards which was in from the moment it left her boot. At 3-1 Sherwood pushed on and made a few changes to their formation which initially Woodlands struggled with. After a long punt up field, Zharney latched onto the loose ball and fired it past Annie who had no chance.
For a five minute period Woodlands switched off and struggled to come to terms with Sherwoods changes and pressure but again defensively the girls hung on and started to push forward themselves. Having pinned Sherwood back into their last third Emily took a quick throw which was flicked on by Georgia to Grace who held off the defender in the area and rolled an inviting ball to Robyn who looked up and fired the ball high into the net over the keeper.
Sherwood again though were not finished and pushed several players up but Woodlands broke up the attack with Katie W racing clear from her own half, drawing the keeper and slipping it past her to finish the game at 5-2
Annie: Overall I don’t think in the first half you had a great deal to but when you were called upon a few times in the second half, as always you prove what an asset you are to the team. Your positioning and presents were spot on and kept the girls in the game throughout
Chelsea: Just for a change you played out your skin again today. Your positional play and tenacity was superb from start to finish. As a fullback you have grown so much in such a short space of time and in your current form you will be hard to displace from the team.
Lucy P: You really must try harder in matches !!!!!! You are the captain for many reasons but your desire to get out there and play is what made your performance today very special. All of our goals today were very special but there can’t be a much better sight than seeing you putting in a sliding tackle in on someone.
Ashley: Firstly, congratulations on reaching your 100th game. If you could crown that with anything at all the way you played today at the back was perfect. I can remember your first game and i will certainly remember your 100th for your sheer desire and reading of the game.
Becky: I have to say that when your asthma reappeared today I feared for your involvement but I had not needed to worry as I think your strength and speed were better after your attack than in the first half. The two centre forwards for Sherwood certainly knew they had been in a game.
Katie W: It’s fair to say I didn’t think you were at your best in the first 15 minutes but after that you played so well. You showed some real speed to put in the tackles that you did and the sight of you running clean through and scoring was great.
Saffy: An outstanding performance from you today, your tackling back and all round passion to play well was a treat to watch. You took your goal really well and it gave us the lift that we needed just before half time. You very much deserved your player of the match today and showed lots of difference sides to your game.
Katie M: Having visited the hospital with a sprained Achilles in mid week I would not have given you any chance of even getting your boots on. You again though defied the injury and were insistent on being a part of things today. Its fair to say also that the brief time you were on the pitch you linked up brilliantly with Georgia and showed some lovely touches.
Georgia: I know you are your own worst critic but what you offer the team we have never had before and opposition teams cannot handle your pace. Having said yesterday to try and keep possession out wide and that you cant always hit 30 yard volleys, that kind of went out of the window with your goal today which was great.
Emily: You certainly put yourself about out there today. Its a tough job playing central midfield but you gave it your all again. As soon as you received Robs pass you only had one thing in your mind and it was a sweet strike to set us off on a very good result
Hannah: Its very hard to play up front on your own but as always you were composed in possession and looked to hold the ball up when your could. Keep working hard at training and you will continue your development playing against very good sides.
Robyn: I know you are another player playing through the pain but the performance you showed today was brilliant. You are known for your pace but not for your coolness in front of goal but today you showed that you have that also with a lovely finish at the end of a great team build up.
Mia: Your best game for us so far by a mile. You said you were nervous before going on but it’s the first time I have seen you use your power and actually go shoulder to shoulder with someone and come away with the ball. You looked good with the ball and very confident all the time you were on the pitch.
Grace: Not sure what you were on today Grace but you were brilliant. Its a tough call to try and play you in the midfield when we know how big and powerful Sherwood are but to use your craft and touch upfront worked a treat. You held the ball up well for others and had a hand in a few of the goals and nearly scored a header from a corner. Well worth your player of the match today.
I would like to say that at 3-2 the game really could have gone either way but you showed some amazing character to make sure we got the decisive goal against a very good strong Sherwood side who will finish right up there at the end of the season I am sure.
I know that sometimes having friendlies in mid week or when we are supposed to have a free week can be a pain but today showed how quickly you can lose your muscle fitness and cramps etc soon set in. I think having these games to keep them going and to also try different things has helped the team so much and that is a credit to the girls.
Ash, Saffy and Grace were todays players of the match but to be honest it really could have been any of the 14 player squad we on display.
For the first game back you were amazing, I am so proud of you.
.jpg)
.jpg)